The day before a special congressional election in Montana, GOP candidate Greg Gianforte, enraged by questions posed by a reporter that he didn't want to answer, physically assaulted the reporter, slamming him to the ground, breaking his glasses, and screaming that he (the reporter) should "get the hell out of here." Gianforte's spokesman spun the incident this way in a statement released later:
"It's unfortunate that this aggressive behavior from a liberal journalist created this scene at our campaign volunteer BBQ."
In the election the next day, Gianforte was elected by a comfortable margin.
Think about that for a minute: a man who who believes he should be elected to Congress physically assaulted a reporter doing his job. And the next day, a majority of the people of Montana decided that was okay.
This is the oath of office that members of the House of Representatives take* when assuming their positions:
“I, (name of Member), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
Mr Gianforte, his spokesman, and everyone who voted for him seems to have forgotten that freedom of the press is part of the Constitution he is supposed to support and defend ... but although everyone shouts about the Constitution, few actually read it, or understand that there are freedoms it enshrines other than the right to pack iron everywhere, for any reason.
What Mr Gianforte did was beyond despicable. The statement issued by his spokesman which heaped blame on the victim was equally despicable and should have appalled anyone who seriously believes in the rights established under the Constitution. Things are bad enough when Donald Trump heaps verbal abuse on those he claims convey "fake news" - defined as that with which he disagrees. They've grown far worse when an elected official believes he can - without consequences - physically assault a reporter in front of a room full of witnesses.
This is not the country I loved and served in my Air Force career.
Bilbo
* Spelled out in law at 5 U.S.C. §3331.
6 comments:
Not to mention...he's the same guy that believes we don't have a right to retire..we should work until we all drop dead..cos you know...Noah was 600.
It's unbelievable that FOX News reported what actually happened. I read that 2/3rds of the voters had cast early ballots. This is one of the hazards of voting early.
And after our idiot it chief disgraced us with his rude words and behavior to our closest international friends at NATO! SHAMEFUL to you wonderful vets and to our nation!
And why I vote by mail at the last reasonable time!
Not a good idea to vote too early.
Well said! I expect he will be getting a lot of media attention in Washington. We'll have to see how he handles it but it doesn't look promising, that's for sure.
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